Student flats plan ditched

Local Democracy Reporter

COUNCIL bosses have welcomed a developer’s move to drop plans for hundreds more student flats in Newcastle.

City councillors have given the Adderstone Group the green light to renovate the Eastgate House offices next to Manors Metro station, after the firm opted not to demolish the site and build a student accommodation block in its place.

The developer says it plans to start work immediately on refurbishing the building and adding two more storeys to turn it into “quality Grade A space”.

Hundreds of student flats have already been built or approved for neighbouring buildings at the Kings Manor Business Park.

Coun Felicity Mendelson, vice chair of Newcastle City Council’s planning committee, told colleagues on Friday she was relieved student housing will not completely take over the area.

She said: “Having mixed use is quite important to that area.

“Previously it looked like it was going to be all student accommodation, so this is a welcome addition in that respect.”

Committee chair Hazel Stephenson also welcomed “a bit more diversity” for the Manors area, as the refurbished office plans were approved unanimously.

Councillors had also approved Adderstone’s plans to knock down Eastgate House to make way for a block that could house more than 300 students in April, but a legal agreement for the scheme was never signed and formal planning permission was never granted.

Adderstone Group CEO Ian Baggett said: “We are excited by the prospect of delivering a landmark 44,000sq ft office development. Eastgate House has generous parking and spectacular views across the city’s famous skyline, down towards the Quayside.

“We are aware there is pent-up demand from local occupiers within the region seeking quality Grade A space in the city centre.”